Does this sound familiar? I’m feeling stressed, so I’ve opened the fridge door. Or perhaps it’s anxiety. And maybe it’s the pantry?

When we are feeling stressed or anxious we often reach for food as a way to comfort ourselves. Just popping in a few tasty morsels to quell the anxiety can’t be so bad, can it?

It may be chips (salty and crunchy) for one person, while another is drawn to chocolate (sweet and creamy). Or sometimes it just seems we can’t eat enough, so we keep eating whatever is around. Yikes!!!

The drawback is, what seemed soothing and stress relieving at the time often makes us feel worse later. We can end up feeling bloated. And what is even worse, we can end up feeling guilty and/or ashamed.

Guess what happens next? We start to feel anxious or stressed about feeling bloated and guilty. And we find ourselves standing in front of the fridge or the pantry again. Looking for the same sense of relief as we tuck into something that makes us feel better.

Sometimes this cycle appears over weeks, sometimes we can find ourselves living several rounds in one evening! And yes, unless we get a handle on this we are going to continue to suffer. What can we do?

Aha! That’s where The Happiness Coach comes to the rescue. When I was President of the Anxiety Disorders Assocation of Ontario (a charity based in Canda) I became an expert on anxiety and nutrition. Today, I’m sharing some of what I learned to help you get out of the anxiety/fridge cycle.

Try a glass of water first

If you find yourself standing in front of the fridge when stressed, here are a few things to think about:

Drink Before You Eat

First thing – go get a glass of water. Sometimes we are thirsty and we don’t realize it! Make sure you get your six to eight glasses a day. This helps to fill you up and helps the digestive system stay healthy. (It’s also good for your skin.) So, drink before you eat.

However, don’t drink alcohol or caffeine when stressed.

Although maybe giving you a temporary soothing sensation, they will actually make your feelings worse or prolong your anxiety and its side effects.

Just Breathe!

Stop all activity for a few moments and take several long slow deep breaths. You will probably notice that your breathing became quite shallow, and this will help you get back to normal breathing.

Snuff out that ciggie

Do not smoke – all the carcinogeous stuff in ciggies increases anxiety…it’s the deep breathing that relaxes you. Just pretend you have a cigarette in your hand, and breathe!

Check In

Now, you have had a glass of water and you are deep breathing, check in with yourself – are you hungry? If the answer is yes…

Eat Regularly

Remember to keep your blood sugar levels stable by eating three nutritious meals and a couple of healthy snacks daily rather than three large meals, or the ever popular “skip a meal because you don’t want the calories.” That will bite you back!

Eat Healthy

Do your best to include some omega-3 fatty acid rich foods in your diet. These help you keep your cool and include flaxseeds and walnuts, salmon and deep sea fish.

Eat Smart

Eating food high in magnesium is proven to help relax muscles and is good for your brain too. Magnesium is found in most foods, especially dairy products, fish, meat and seafood. Also include in your diet apples, bananas, brown rice and tofu.

And magnesium is found in chocolate! Mwah!!!

Oh well, we are not looking to be perfect, just to be healthy.

Final Tip ~ Walk Away!

If anxiety is causing you misery and your eating feels like it is out of control, try helping yourself by improving your diet and drinking more water. If you need more help, please contact me for an appointment and we will work together to get you back on track.

Walk Away

And my final tip…walk away from the fridge and the pantry, and take a brisk walk outdoors. You will breathe deeply, get some exercise and begin to clear your thoughts.

Jacqueline Fairbrass

You may reprint this article and include this information:

Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

Do you ever sit and daydream? Imagining living the Happy Life? Making pictures in your mind’s eye about…

living with higher self-confidence and self-worth

enjoying better health and great sleep

having more energy

achieving your goals

becoming popular and having lots of friends

achieving more of what you truly want

balancing the different areas of your life

being truly Happy!

If you can do any of the above, you can begin to improve your life and Choose Happy with hypnotherapy! Really! Let me tell you how…

Hypnotherapy is a Complementary Alternate Medicine therapy that allows you to reach levels of deep relaxation. When you are relaxed the conscious and the sub-conscious mind are very close together. You simply have to relax and think of new ways of being for your mind to make changes.

My aim is to help you help yourself.

Hypnotherapy is not about one person controlling another’s mind, but about a sensitive and caring relationship developed between therapist and client, in which a true understanding of each client’s goals, ideals and objectives are established. I am dedicated to helping each client achieve their objectives in the shortest possible time, in accord with their best interests.

Hypnotherapy or Clinical Hypnosis can be used to help in an almost unlimited number of ways, and is especially useful in behavior modification (big words that mean ‘changing your habits’):

relaxing,

relieving anxiety and depression,

quit smoking,

changing eating habits,

overcoming fears and phobias,

improving memory and study habits

and much more.

My studies in hypnotherapy have led me to believe it to be one of the simplest tools of change we can use. Currently, I am working with clients who have anxiety, depression, phobias, weight issues and sleep problems. Each and every one is feeling better using hypnotherapy! And that is how to Choose Happy!

Hypnotherapy can allow you to escape from your typical patterns of response and behavior, allowing you to achieve greater flexibility and choice.

It works by allowing you to relax deeply, so giving you the ability to choose new ways of doing, being and thinking, without being controlled by past experiences.

I want you to be able to achieve your objectives and Choose Happy in the shortest possible time, with your best interests in mind.

When you make an appointment with me because you are ready to feel better in any area of your life, whether it body, mind, emotions or spirit, hypnotherapy is one thing we consider. Sessions are personalized and highly enjoyable experiences.

Thank you for being ready to change and ready to Choose Happy. I look forward to helping you achieve your full potential! To make an appointment to try a hypnotherapy session or begin a series of life-changing sessions, please contact me.

Stopping for a break ~ herbal tea and some fruit ~ keeping up my blood sugar!

It’s important for you to know and be aware about blood sugar. Blood sugar stabilizing is important for reducing stress and lessening feelings of anxiety. And there are many other benefits you will find from maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Click here for more information.

As defined in the dictionary, blood sugar is the glucose in blood that rises and falls depending upon what we eat. All carbohydrates are ultimately converted to glucose to be used by the body as fuel for the brain and muscles.

When we are feeling low on energy we often crave sugar or caffeine. Caffeine appears to release stored glucose. Instinctively we know that these substances will raise our energy (or sugar) level quickly.

So, what’s wrong with that? The problem is that this high concentration overloads the system, causing the levels to swing up above normal giving us a lift, then fall rapidly to way below normal. Then we feel even more tired and crave more sugar or caffeine…so, we have another cup of coffee, glass of coke, sugary snack…our energy swings up again and crashes down again…over and over!

Riding on the chemical roller coaster leads to irritability, depression, anxiety, confusion and fatigue. It actually becomes an addiction cycle! We are not nurturing and taking care of ourselves when we are in this pattern.

Ideally we want a strong, steady level of energy all day long. We want to avoid the swings up and down by eating healthy food in healthy amounts. We need to avoid sugar and caffeine, and instead eat whole foods that are digested slowly.

These are complex carbohydrates: fruits, vegetables, grains. These foods slowly release their energy into the body. As a Natural Health Consultant I suggest most people need to eat three meals a day and two to three snacks, so your body is receiving quality energy all day.

Start kicking coffee by using good quality decaffeinated coffee. You will have the taste without the caffeine. If you are a heavy coffee user, wean yourself off by cutting the number of cups you drink daily. Caffeine withdrawal produces bad headaches and other side effects that may give you an excuse to give up. Go slowly, this is a process of loving yourself, not punishing. Try herbal teas. There are hundreds on the market, buy sample packs and find your favourites. Try coffee substitutes, you may find you like them.

And drink water! At least six glasses daily. Don’t like water? Try fizzy spring water with ice and a slice of lemon in a beautiful glass. Put some pleasant tasting chlorophyll into the water-Nature’s Sunshine has a spearmint oil added. Take a 1.5 litre bottle with you in the morning and promise yourself you’ll finish it by bedtime, then finish it by noon and feel pleased with yourself!

Top Tips for Happy Healthy Hair

This month, a client of Jacqueline’s shares a question.

Question:My hair is thinning and I’m only in my twenties! What should I do?

Okay, your thin hair situation. It started when you you lost a lot of weight in one year. I believe it is a nourishment issue. You also have a bit of a tendency to under-eat and over the years you haven’t built your reserves back.

So, let’s start with building up nutritionally:

Start with getting yourself a bottle of Floradix and taking it daily. One bottle will last one month.

You need to be taking a good multivitamin. I suggest to get started you take Salus Haus Epresat Multivitamin Energeticum. It’s the same make as Floradix, so another liquid supplement.

Taking liquid supplements you will get the most absorption and although expensive, the best bang for your buck.

Either drink oatstraw tea, as much as you like and as strong as you can, or get horsetail tincture. They both contain lots of silica, which is necessary for healthy hair growth.

Now, let’s consider the physical condition of your hair and scalp and tune that up:

In case there are little icky mites in your scalp doing damage … next time you wash your hair, massage 10 drops tea tree or manuka essential oil into your scalp before washing. Massage your head often. Wash your hair with Shampure by Aveda. Wash once only, don’t rinse and repeat. Massage your scalp. Blot hair carefully as it is fragile when wet.

Lay off the products. Use Shampure or a ph balanced natural shampoo and then as a final rinse … 2 TBsp apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s is best) and sage tea. Make the tea and let it cool. this helps hair to grow. Wash as little as you can, try every other day to begin with. Now the weather is improving, don’t blow dry and allow your hair to dry naturally. Don’t use tongs or straighteners. Remember, this is a healing process, so the hair has to be treated with loving care. You have a very nice natural wave, just let it do its thing. You are beautiful and getting your hair health back will take some time, but will be well worth it.

Stop wearing your hair pulled back in a ponytail … causes stress on the hair and makes hair fall out. If you want it off your face, use an alice band. Sorry, I know you pull your hair back, but this has to stop for now.

Back to nutrition:

Make sure you eat a diet high in frutis and veggies and low in starch. This is indicated to slow down the process of hair loss. They are high in flavonoids, which are antioxidants. This will help protect the hair follicles and actually encourage hair growth. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on your salads, eat brown rice instead of white and add green peas to your diet. These are high in biotin which is necessary for health hair and skin. There is a hormone indicated in hair loss, dihydro-testosterone, which is inhibited somewhat by the addition of soy to the diet. So, make your meat-free Mondays a tofu day!

Go off alcohol for a month. It depletes your B vitamins, which are being depleted by the stress of your work anyway. Without the B vitamins, your hair suffers. This will add more impact to the supplements you are taking.

So, do this to start and we’ll check-in in about 3 weeks to see where we go next.

Over the years I have listened to hundreds of clients and students make excuses for not exercising—seriously, I think I’ve heard them all. And I always say ‘the key is finding something you love to do’.

So today I’m going to share some of my tips to making exercise more fun:

Don’t do it alone. Go with a friend. The buddy system works so well. If you are not feeling motivated, maybe your friend is, or vice versa.

Don’t over do it! The temptation to get stuck in and work like mad because you haven’t exercised for a while is so strong. Resist! Go gently. As we say at Feeling Absolutely Fabulous, ‘gentle change leads to permanent results’. Take it easy and you won’t injure yourself. You have all the time in the world.

Don’t commit to an exercise regime until you have tried it for a while. Sometimes the initial endorphin rush is mistaken for loving the exercise. See if it works for you and your lifestyle first. Then make the commitment.

Do schedule exercise into your daily calender. If you make an appointment with yourself you are more likely to keep it than saying ‘I’ll get round to it when I’ve done everything else’.

Do something you can afford. The stress out-weighs the benefits if you cannot afford to do it. Walking is free. Running is free. Doing the housework vigorously is free, which brings me to my final tip for today:

Moving your body is exercise. You don’t have to wait until you can join a program or pay for a gym membership. Get physical and clean the house. Get physical and go shopping: park the car away from the mall entrance and walk vigorously around the mall. Make love with enthusiasm—teehee! Get down on the floor and play with the kids/grand-kids/pets. Move it or lose it!

‘In her book Ms. Hay focuses on changing thought patterns to improve your health and life over all. She teaches manifestation through positive thought. This book helps it’s readers to recognize and acknowledge current thought patterns that are acting in ways opposite to that which we truly want to feel and bring into our lives. Louise Hay also goes into detail on the specific thought pattern that lies under physical ailments, including a chart to break it all down (which is from her book Heal Your Body). As part of this chart she includes the thought(s) that can be used to break the current pattern.

I have to admit that I had a lot of trouble (resistance) reading this book, which I did find surprising as I am a firm believer in active manifestation. But through this I got the chance, with the help of this book, to really look at where I had been straying from my path of manifesting. I was forced to be present in my thoughts, which can be very uncomfortable. As I carried on with the book I did eventually come to a place of gratitude with the awareness Ms. Hay’s book brought to me. This experience reminded me that lessons come when we need them, not always (or rarely) when we want them.

In the past, I have read other books on the Law of Attraction and active manifestation. So, I admit I thought this book would be a ‘walk in the park’ for me as the others had sparked a connection with me. It wasn’t. The tone the book was written in did not resonate with me. I felt as though I was a little girl being lectured, which riled up the rebel in me. But once I finally finished the book I realized that this was a very effective technique. I wanted to “show” the book itself that I could indeed change my thought patterns. This book would not beat me, I would finish it and I would benefit from it.

I did really enjoy the personal connection to herself that Louise Hay brings into the book. Through parts of the book it was this connection that kept me going. Through her stories of her journey I was inspired to bring these changes into my life everyday. Finishing the book with her personal story was a good way to end. I felt it took away the sensation of “who are you to tell me these things”. It brought proof to her book if any reader should need it.

I am grateful that I read this book, as hard as it was for me to get through. I have learned, and am continuing to learn, from it. It has helped me to keep the awareness of my thoughts present. I feel I am back on my path of active manifestation.

Submitted by a student. Received and shared with permission and gratitude.

Have you noticed that it is becoming more and more confusing to decide what to eat? It seems that a new study or a new fad diet comes out every day. One day we are avoiding too much protein as it’s hard on the kidneys, and then the next we are loading up on protein heavy diets to lose weight. One day we are taking all dairy out of our diet so we are free of congestion, and the next day we are eating yogurt three times a day to improve our colon health. Are you confused?

SCT Founder Jacqueline Fairbrass tucking into a fabulous gluten-free

Have you noticed that it is becoming more and more confusing to decide what to eat? It seems that a new study or a new fad diet comes out every day. One day we are avoiding too much protein as it’s hard on the kidneys, and then the next we are loading up on protein heavy diets to lose weight. One day we are taking all dairy out of our diet so we are free of congestion, and the next day we are eating yogurt three times a day to improve our colon health. Are you confused?

Over the years I worked as a naturopath, I found that diets and fad diets were occasionally useful but most of the time left people out of balance. So, I developed Nutrition 101 to help people learn to eat well and follow a balanced diet. Whether you want to maintain a healthy weight or lose a few pounds, understanding what our bodies need to ingest and paying attention to how we feel when we have eaten is in my opinion the key to healthy body weight.

This month I’ve spent some time with people on what I call ‘fad diets’. That is, diets that cut calories to less than

1000 a day and cut out one particular food group. When we cut down our calories to a very low level (seriously, one friend of mine is currently ingesting under 500 calories a day while working out!) our body goes into ketosis. This means that we use our stored energy and we lose weight. The question is, whether this is healthy for us. Initially, we get a sense of euphoria from it, which people attribute to increased energy. It’s actually a body function from ancient times ~ we get energized to find more food because we are starving ourselves. When we go back to normal eating, the weight goes back on faster than ever as the body celebrates not starving!

Quite simply, removing one particular food group from our diet can lead us into ill health through unbalance. We don’t get the body’s nutritional requirements met unless we eat from all the food groups.

So, what should we do? Perhaps you are looking to lose a few pounds, or you’d like to be healthier or you’d simply like to stop being confused. I recommend that you take the Nutrition 101 course. It’s experiential, which means that while you study and learn you are guided to record your nutritional experiences. Take this course to help yourself and to help your family and loved ones. It’s easy to follow and learn and you’ll be able to take charge of your eating habits.

In the meantime here are some of my tips to make eating right easier:

Drink more water. We often confuse hunger and thirst, so drink your water, hydrate your body and see if you need to eat as much.

Take a daily multi-vitamin. Make it a good quality one from food sources.

And the most important! Slow down and enjoy your food. Don’t eat while you drive, while you watch TV or standing in the kitchen because you are in a hurry. Paying attention to what you eat cuts calorie intake like nothing else.

The human body is a wonderfully complex structure, and despite its complexity works wonderfully well most of the time. That many of us feel helpless in the face of illness or disease reveals a lack of understanding of how the human body works. When we work to develop a relationship with ourselves holistically: body, mind, spirit and emotions, we can impact our relationship to dis-ease and to illness.

Dr. Andrew Weil in his book Health and Healing says “All living things consist of one or more cells. Each cell can live independently of the rest and cells can arise only from other cells. This implies that those parts of our bodies that live–that eat, breathe, move about, and reproduce do so only through the cells…if physiology seeks to discover how living things work, it must ultimately express the explanations in terms of cellular activity.”

The cell is the basic structure of all tissues, organ and body systems. The body contains hundreds of different types of cells: the long spindly muscle cells, the round red blood cells, the sperm cells with their tales, the nerve cells with their dendrites and axons. However, in spite of their different shapes and functions, each cell has essentially the same composition.

The cells make up the organs. The human body is made up of many organs, and the majority of organs work together in organ systems. Each system in turn depends for its own effectiveness on the proper functioning of the other systems. In short term, the cardiovascular system is the one that keeps us alive, and therefore may be called THE MOST IMPORTANT, but for long-term survival the body needs all of its systems to function effectively and in harmony. All systems are vital to human survival.

You can read lots of information about how cells are impacted by different things, including our thoughts, feelings and emotions. They are impacted by what we eat, breathe, sense and feel. However, that same sense of helplessness occurs whenever we are faced with something going wrong!

There are a number of ways to combat this sense of helplessness, and I believe that education is the key. The more you can learn about how your body works, the better idea you have to prevent things going wrong; and if they do breakdown or you become ill, you have a better idea of how to get better!

There are of course different ways to educate yourself, and I’m not suggesting that you have to know everything. A sense of general knowledge, for instance: knowing where your organs are, knowing how the cells work, understanding what the basic organs systems do and feeling comfortable in knowing what does what in your own body.

JF ~ confident in knowing how her body works!

I encourage you to read articles on the web, pick-up books and watch documentaries. However if you would like to do some structured learning: The School of Complementary Therapies offers a very comprehensive and easy to understand course in Anatomy & Physiology that you can learn in the comfort of your own home. This guided learning process will help you understand how your body works, thereby empowering you in your health care choices. In addition to discussing and learning about the various body systems and their functions, we explore some of the more common problems that can arise.

If you would like to learn more, please click here for the course outline. And of course, I am always happy to hear from you by phone or e-mail. Get to know your body.

Recently I was asked about muscle cramps and what it means ~ that awful ‘charley horse’ feeling that occurs in a muscle.When a muscle engages or contracts, it shortens. A spasm is an involuntary contraction of a muscle and you just can’t simply will it to relax!

Muscles spasm when the normal balance of potassium and sodium (electrolytes) in the muscle cells is disturbed for a longer period of time than the muscles usually can handle. So, even something like a Reflexology session can cause muscle spasms as the circulation is improved during the treatment.

There are a number of things that may contribute to an imbalance of electrolytes:

Dehydration, from inadequate fluid intake or excessive sweating

Vigorous exercise, especially if you don’t stretch before and after

Potassium and/or calcium deficiency

So why may a cramp occur during a foot reflexology session?

Muscles that have been overly taut for a period of time, including the lower leg and sole of the foot, relax during a reflexology session. This may disrupt the electrolyte balance and may cause a muscle to cramp.

If you are a Reflexologist and this happens when you are giving a treatment, the first thing is ‘don’t panic”. The solution is simple. To relax any muscle in the body, you actively engage the antagonistic or opposing muscle, which will increase circulation to the affected muscle and allow it to lengthen and relax. If you are receiving a Reflexology treatment and this happens to you, relax, breathe and allow the trained professional to take care of you.

What I do when a Reflexology client on my table cramps up is to immediately place the palm of my hand on the dorsal side of their foot and ask them to strongly pull their foot towards their face (dorsi-flex). At the same time my hand resists their motion, attempting to pull their foot towards my face (plantar-flex). Obviously, this is done with sensitivity to the flexibility of the client, which I have assessed at the very beginning of the treatment session. This combined action engages the foot flexor muscles and lengthens the extensor and intrinsic foot muscles. The hold is held for a couple of seconds and then both the client and I relax our efforts. We immediately do it again, and continue to repeat the sequence of engagement and relaxation until the cramping stops (usually three or four repetitions is all it takes).

I was recently told of an acupressure to alleviate cramping. While performing the movements described above, you wuld ask your client to apply pressure with their index finger between their lip and nose, two-thirds of the way up and to hold that point firmly until the cramp subsides. I haven’t tried it yet, but am game next time this happens!

Adequate hydration, regular foot reflexology, massage of the muscles that tend to cramp, a diet high in potassium and calcium, and daily stretching can prevent the re-occurrence of muscle cramps. And my personal favorite, drink a glass of carrot juice each day until your condition improves ~ seriously! Carrot juice contains all types of electrolytes and is yummy. I’ve even encouraged clients to drink a cup before bed to fix their night cramps.

It has always fascinated me that there are so many ancient ways of keeping well and yet in our modern world of ‘bigger is better’ and ‘more begat more’, we seldom find time from our stressful lifestyles to take care of our own personal health.
Wellness Facilitator, Carol Hawksley, makes the study and practice of the Healing Arts a way of life that is nurturing, inspiring and encouraging her clients to choose healthier, happier and more productive lives.

‘What made you decide to become a wellness facilitator?’
When I started my business ten years ago, I was offering a variety of services including Reflexology. Therapeutic Touch, Infant Massage Instruction, Relaxation Massage and Leisure Workshops. Somewhere inside of me my sense was that the list would not stop there.
There were so many wonderful treatments and techniques emerging that my interests and imagination were swirling. When thinking about a name for my business I wanted something that would reflect what I offered not only in the beginning but also as my services expanded.
I started to look at commonalities, what was the common thing that I was offering. Some of what I offered was ‘hands on’, some was education and information, some was about relaxation and stress reduction, some was about improved health.
As all of this began to come together, it seemed to me to be about improving wellness. In addition to this, my belief is that I’m not ‘doing something to the person’ rather we are doing something together. The clients take an active role, even if it seems they are just passively lying there receiving a treatment. I’m only facilitating or helping them so their bodies can do what they naturally want to do and are able to do.
The more I looked at what I had to offer and the more I thought about what my belief about my roles was, the more I saw the words ‘wellness’ and ‘facilitator’ emerging. It was not that I saw the ‘job description’ of a Wellness Facilitator and then decided to pursue a career in that direction. But rather I recognized my beliefs as well as my training and expertise and the term ‘Wellness Facilitator’ seemed to invent itself.

‘Offering reflexology treatments is a large part of your healing work. How does it work?’
How does reflexology work? What a good question. Even though reflexology has been around for over 5,000 years, and even though we have so many wonderful modern testing techniques and equipment, there still is not an answer to your question. However, I can explain a bit about the different systems involved.
To begin, there are reflex points on the feet that seem to be linked with our entire body structure, so all of the glands and organs and body areas have specific reflex areas represented on the feet. Another system is called Zone or Zonal therapy. This was the early forerunner from which modern reflexology was developed.
There are ten zones running vertically from head to toes as well as down the arms to the fingers. Each strip or ‘zone’ is numbered with the big toe and thumb #1, through to the little toe and little finger as #5. It would appear that by working a toe, everything in the body in that corresponding zone is activated.
As well, there are points on the toes and fingers that correspond to the Meridian system. That is the same meridian system that acupuncture is based on.

‘I understand you were at the top of your class with 99% upon completion of your original foot reflexology course. What other training have you taken?’
I began therapeutic touch training in 1992 finishing all three levels and the other requirements to become a Recognized therapeutic Touch Practitioner and a member of the therapeutic Touch Network of Ontario (TTNO) in 1998. As a requirement to maintain that designation, I attend a minimum of eight hours continuing Therapeutic Touch specific training per year, as well as attend a monthly Practice Group.
In 1999 I received my certification as an Infant Massage Instructor through the International Association of Infant Massage. This specific technique is taught in over thirty countries around the world. It is a form of massage that combines aspects of East Indian massage, Swedish Massage,Yoga and Reflexology.

‘How do you teach Infant Massage to parents?’
I give the instructions while demonstrating with a doll and parents massage their babies. They learn not only about massage strokes, but also a little bit about anatomy, respect, and how to read their baby’s communication cues.
This technique helps to calm the baby, stimulate growth, and improve such things as sleep, digestion, and elimination. The whole family benefits from the instruction. Parents say they feel more confident in their role as a parent. This, in turn, has a spin off affect on the rest of the family, both immediate and extended, because if the baby and parents are more relaxed and healthier, everyone around them is also more relaxed and happier.

‘How do you use massage with adults?’
My training for relaxation massage is les formal. I took a basic introduction course on ‘Swedish Massage’ and I have gained experience while treating several Registered Massage therapists. I also continue to do extensive reading. What I offer is ‘Relaxation Massage’ for clients strictly for relaxation purposes. If anyone asks for a treatment of a specific condition, I refer them to a Registered Massage Therapist.
Learning, for me, is ongoing and takes many forms. Part of my less formal learning is receiving services from others. Learning how other people do things and how I feel in receiving a service helps me to be a better therapist for my clients.

‘What other courses have enriched you work?’
For years I have had a fascination and an interest in crystals and stones, firstly because of their beauty—nature is amazing. Then I learned how their different properties could be helpful to my clients.
The School where I took my original reflexology course, theHolistic Foot Reflexology with the School of Complementary Therapies (SCT) [at the Ottawa satellite,] was offering an Advanced Reflexology course called ‘Crystal Reflexology’. This course taught about the properties of various stones and crystals and how to use them in different ways during a reflexology treatment.

‘I’ve always wondered how crystals work. Can you explain this?’
Quartz crystals vibrate to a certain frequency. That is why they have been used in ‘quartz’ watches for years. Other stones and crystals have different ‘vibrational’ frequencies. The crystal frequencies seem to assist the body in harmonizing its own frequencies, in other words, bringing the body functions back into harmony and balance.
The use of crystals seems to deepen the person’s experience of a reflexology treatment with some people saying it feels almost like they have had a double reflexology treatment.

‘How do you keep up to date with your work?’
I have taken many other courses through SCT. The School offers Reflexology Refresher Days where participants have an opportunity to both give and receive reflexology treatments from other practitioners which is a great learning experience.
Also, on those days, information about current topics, legislation and other relevant subjects are presented. These days are open to all reflexologists and all reflexology students from all schools, so my knowledge base is broadened way beyond just one single school or one teacher’s perspective.
Another valuable course through SCT that I took was Anatomy and Physiology. This broadened my understanding of the body’s structure and how it works.
It is amazing how the different aspects of all of my training connect. Aspects of reflexology help me to better understand Infant Massage and vice-versa. The Anatomy and Physiology [course] helped me to better understand the workings of all my other training and the other training helped me to better understand the Anatomy and Physiology course.

‘Do you see yourself as a teacher?’
It wasn’t until sometime during 2003-2004, that people started telling me that I would make a great teacher. At first it seemed to be just a comment in response to how I conduct my sessions. I have always tried to pass along bits of education to my clients to help them learn more about the service they are receiving and a bit more about themselves.
But then I realized I had been a teacher for years. When I was in my teens I taught figure skating. That teaching continued for many years both as an amateur coach and then as a professional coach. During that time the Canadian Coaching Certification program came into being, so I took three Levels of that training.
Over the years I have incorporated teaching into many aspects of previous employment and volunteerism. So it made sense that I became a Certified Reflexology Teacher with the School of Complementary Therapies. I am authorized by SCT to teach Holistic Foot Reflexology, Reflexology Refresher Days, Introduction to Reflexology for Registered Massage Therapists, Crystal Reflexology, Anatomy and Physiology, Holistic Hand Reflexology and Magic Wand Workshop.

‘How does Magic Wand work?”
The Magic Wand workshop is not about capital ‘M’ magic but it is more about putting the small ‘m’ magic back into our busy hectic lives. It is a way to look at what is important to us and a gentle reminder of ways to focus on those important aspects of ourselves.

‘How do you keep inspired?’
I am always seeking out new techniques and new information. Recently, I trained at the fusion School of Natural health in a course on Ayurvedic head Massage. This is an East Indian technique that is over 1,000 years old and it is still practiced in many Indian households as a weekly home treatment.
I am now certified as an Ayurvedic Head Massage Practitioner and am teaching the practice to others.

“Ayurvedic head massage. Now that sounds interesting. Who could benefit from this?’
Anyone could benefit from Ayurvedic Head Massage. In East Indian traditional homes it has begun at birth. Certainly the extent of massage done with a newborn would be minimal, but none the less aspects are used from birth.

‘I think I can see a link here.’
Yes. Remember earlier I was talking about how all of my training seems to be connected. The Infant Massage course now includes information about how newborns in India have their heads and bodies massaged using certain oils that enhance growth.

‘You have shared your experience and knowledge by teaching Advanced Reflexology both locally and in other parts of the province [of Ontario]. How many people have you trained?’
I am not sure of the numbers as I have lost track over the years, but in this region I have trained people in Barry’s Bay, Ottawa, Brockville, Athens, Cardinal, Addison, Kemptville, North Augusta, just to name a few. In Norwestern Ontario I have had about fifteen students in several different communities.

‘How do you see your role in the community of reflexologists?’
My role in the community of reflexologists, I believe, is that of both teacher and students. We are all unique with unique combinations of learning. In effect, we are all teachers and students at the same time.

‘You are quite active in your community and have received recognition for your contributions in the business sector. How does it feel to be recognized by your peers?’
For eight years I was a member of the 1000 Islands (Brockville) Business Network International Chapter. This experience was invaluable. I learned many, many things, both about business and about myself personally.
The purpose of this group is to encourage networking as a way to promote business. Networking is the fastest growing marketing technique used today. In 2004 and 2005, my peers saw fit to nominate me as Notable Networker.
The criteria included such aspects as positive attitude, attendance, number of referrals to other businesses, attending training and holding offices within the Chapter, as well as generally promoting the concepts of networking.
I was absolutely amazed that others in the group considered me with such high regard. You know we go through life doing what feels right and trying to help and make a difference, but we very rarely find out what impact we have on other people and even rarer do we find out what others think of us. Those awards mean a lot to me because they say that I helped to make a difference to people’s businesses and personal lives.

‘How do you know that your wellness work is having a positive effect? Can you think of one special situation where someone made a break through?’
I get feedback from people almost on a daily basis. Of the reflexology treatments, people remark about improved sleep, more energy, improved digestion and elimination, reduced stress, and reduced aches and pains. People often comment, after some interruption to their usual weekly or bi-weekly treatment schedule that their body began telling them that it was time for another treatment.
With Infant Massage, I occasionally see past families. They are always excited to tell me how the massage they learned and continue to give to their babies, and any additional babies they have, has made such a difference in the lives—more connectedness, more confidence, and healthy and happy babies.
My workshops are so numerous from short presentations to more lengthy personal journeys, but, one recent correspondence gave me great pleasure. This person attended the ‘Discover Your Passion’ Workshop.
I had known the person for several years but in a more personal/social environment. I thought I knew this person and I thought here participation in this workshop would just be a fun day where she could play and focus on herself. Well you know what happens when we think we ‘know’ something.
This workshop was very powerful for this person, helping her to gain much personal insight. Her note talked about how a few simple statements and concepts had such a profound affect helping her to move forward.
One of the things I believe in is self-care. This does not mean to care only for yourself at other people’s expense, but rather to care for yourself so you have energy to give to others. I always come back to that safety demonstration done on airplanes where they tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before you put it on anyone with you, in your care. You have to be healthy to be able to give to others.

‘Where have you offered your wellness seminars?’
Many place. I have been asked to present in various locations from a Massage Therapists class at a school in Ottawa where I presented a seminar on Introduction to Meditation, to a women’s day in Spencerville where I presented a workshop on Self-Care. At the YMCA in Brockville I gave a seminar on Personal Power and another one on the importance of leisure activities.

‘Why are leisure activities important?”
There have been many studies done on the importance of leisure activities in a person’s life. In fact, results have shown that the amount of time a person spends engaged in leisure activities away from the usual ‘work’ lives is directly linked to their increased creativity, their increased productivity, and their increased income. Who would guess that play can be so powerful.

‘What keeps you going as a wellness facilitator?’
Passion and fascination. I continue to be fascinated by how this simple technique of a sequence of strokes done on the feet or hands can affect such wonderful changes in the body. Over and over people tell me their stories of how helpful reflexology is for them. As well, I make sure I receive reflexology on a regular basis. I learn how helpful it can be for me. This fascination and constant learning fuels my passion.

‘You are offering a new workshop called ‘Leaping Lizards’. What is it?’
‘Leaping Lizards’ is designed for people in transition in their lives, whether they are leaving their existing employment or looking for new ways to use their gifts, talents and abilities. It may be they are entering a new phase of their lives or have a desire to explore innovative ways of expressing their visions and creative selves.
In this workshop the participants have an opportunity to enter into creative explorations and to discover individual potential for enriching their lives.

Carol Hawksley is a member of the Brockville Women’s Network, Brockville Women in Business, Therapeutic Touch Network of Ontario, Ontario College of Reflexology, Reflexology Registration Council of Ontario, and International Association of Infant Massage.

Deborah Dunleavy is an award-winning author and storyteller who offers StoryPro Seminars for businesses and organizations.